Claims
- 1. A divisible shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads by conventional tined material handling devices, which apparatus can be operably divided into multiple, independent shipping platform units for supporting and transporting loads, said divisible shipping platform apparatus comprising:
- a substantially flat, planar load-bearing platform member for supporting said load,
- said platform member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface, wherein said load is capable of resting upon said top surface during the storage and transporting of said load;
- a substantially flat planar bottom panel member positioned substantially parallel to, and distally spaced below said platform member, for supporting and bearing the weight of both said platform member and said load,
- said bottom panel member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface;
- a plurality of pylons operably positioned between said platform member and said bottom panel member so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of one or more tines of said conventional tined material handling devices therebetween, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said divisible shipping platform apparatus during use thereof,
- each of said pylons having a top end and a bottom end opposite said top end, and an outer surface,
- said top end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member, and said bottom end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said top surface of said bottom panel member;
- at least one frangibility line operably positioned across at least a portion of at least one of the platform member and the bottom panel member so as to enable severing of at least said portion of one of said platform member and said bottom panel member along said at least one frangibility line to, in turn, facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units of smaller size for the subsequent handling, supporting and transporting of loads borne thereby.
- 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said at least one frangibility line positioned in at least one of said platform member and said bottom panel member spans the substantial length of at least one of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of at least one of the platform member and the bottom panel member so as to facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units of smaller size.
- 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said at least one frangibility line is positioned in at least a portion of both said platform member and said bottom panel member so as to facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units of smaller size.
- 4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said frangibility lines positioned in at least a portion of both the platform member and the bottom panel member are in substantial alignment.
- 5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said frangibility lines positioned in at least a portion of both the platform member and the bottom panel member are at least partially misaligned so as to preclude inadvertent separation of said divisible shipping platform apparatus into multiple components.
- 6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said at least one frangibility line comprises a series of perforations, each perforation having a predetermined configuration and length so as to impart a frangibility threshold to said at least one frangibility line.
- 7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said frangibility line perforations are positioned in at least a portion of both said platform member and said bottom panel member.
- 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said series of perforations in said platform member being different in at least one of configuration and length from said series of perforations in said bottom panel member, so as to impart a different frangibility threshold on said at least one frangibility line in said platform member than the frangibility threshold associated with said at least one frangibility line in said bottom panel member.
- 9. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said frangibility threshold is lower in said bottom panel member than in said top platform member to facilitate division of said divisible shipping platform apparatus into multiple independent shipping platform units.
- 10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said at least one frangibility line comprises a tear strip integrally formed in at least one of said platform member and said bottom panel member.
- 11. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said bottom panel member includes at least one aperture, such that said at least one aperture facilitates effective cooperation of said divisible shipping platform apparatus with said tined material handling device by allowing at least a portion of said tined material handling device to be positioned between said platform member and said bottom panel member during the raising, relocation, and lowering of said divisible shipping platform apparatus and, in turn, said load.
- 12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said at least one aperture takes the form of at least one shape from the group consisting of circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, ovals, or polygons.
- 13. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said bottom panel member comprises four divisible regions, each of said divisible regions including an aperture to facilitate effective cooperation of said divisible shipping platform apparatus with said tined material handling device.
- 14. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said bottom panel member comprises at least one perforated region,
- said at least one perforated region defining at least one aperture region having a top surface operably positioned co-planar to said top surface of said bottom panel member, and a bottom surface operably positioned co-planar to said bottom surface of said bottom panel member, thereby adding overall structural rigidity to said bottom panel member prior to detachment and removal of said at least one perforated region from said bottom panel member,
- said at least one perforated region detaching from said bottom panel member upon application of a loading force to said at least one perforated region by said conventional material handling device so as to expose at least one aperture region defined by said at least one perforated region.
- 15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said bottom panel member comprises four divisible regions, each of said divisible regions including a perforated region to facilitate effective cooperation of said divisible shipping platform apparatus with said tined material handling device.
- 16. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons have a substantially elongated configuration.
- 17. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons are further tubular in shape to include an interior region having an inner surface.
- 18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said pylons have a substantially elongated configuration.
- 19. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons are constructed from multiple layers of substantially paperboard material.
- 20. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons are constructed from multiple substantially concentric layers of paperboard material.
- 21. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons are operably positioned between said platform member and said bottom panel member to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices into and from said divisible shipping platform apparatus before division of said divisible shipping platform apparatus into multiple independent shipping platform units, and wherein said pylon positioning also facilitates insertion, maintenance and removal of said tines into and from said independent shipping platform units after division of said divisible shipping platform.
- 22. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pylons are operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member and said top surface of said bottom panel member by an adhesive.
- 23. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising:
- at least one pylon sleeve for operably housing said pylons, wherein said pylon sleeve includes
- a top sleeve member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two opposing side edges;
- a bottom sleeve member having a top surface, a bottom surface, two opposing side edges, and an opening;
- said top end of at least two pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said top sleeve member, and said bottom end of each of said at least two pylons being operably secured to said top surface of said bottom sleeve member,
- said top surface of said top sleeve member being operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member, and said bottom surface of said bottom sleeve member being operably secured to said top surface of said bottom panel member, so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices therebetween, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said shipping platform apparatus during use thereof.
- 24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said at least one pylon sleeve further comprises:
- at least two top sleeve member side panels, said top sleeve member side panels foldably emanating from said top sleeve member opposing side edges;
- at least two bottom sleeve member side panels, said bottom sleeve member side panel foldably emanating from said bottom sleeve member opposing side edges,
- said top sleeve member side panels substantially overlaying and being secured to at least a portion of said outside surface of said pylons, and
- said bottom sleeve member side panels substantially overlaying and being secured to at least a portion of said top sleeve member side panels.
- 25. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said shipping platform apparatus further comprises at least two substantially equally sized divisible regions, each of said divisible regions having said pylon sleeve and said housed pylons positioned between said platform member and said bottom panel member.
- 26. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said at least one pylon sleeve comprises a substantially paperboard material.
- 27. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said bottom sleeve member opening substantially aligns with one of said apertures formed in said bottom panel.
- 28. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said platform member comprises at least one layer of corrugated paperboard material.
- 29. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said bottom panel member comprises at least one layer of corrugated paperboard material.
- 30. The invention according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said platform member and said bottom panel member comprise two or more layers of corrugated paperboard material, each layer having a direction of corrugation, in which the direction of corrugation of at least one of said platform member layers is substantially transverse to the direction of corrugation of at least one of said bottom panels layers to impart increased multi-directional strength to said divisible shipping platform apparatus.
- 31. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into at least two independent shipping platform units.
- 32. The invention according to claim 31 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into four independent shipping platform units.
- 33. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said platform member further comprises:
- at least one pair of opposing edges and
- a pair of side panels foldably emanating from said at least one pair of opposing platform member edges.
- 34. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said bottom panel member further comprises:
- at least one pair of opposing edges and
- a pair of side panels foldably emanating from said at least one pair of opposing bottom panel member edges.
- 35. A divisible shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads by conventional tined material handling devices, which apparatus can be separated into multiple, independent shipping platform units for supporting and transporting loads, said divisible shipping platform apparatus comprising:
- a substantially flat planar load-bearing platform member for supporting said load,
- said platform member formed of a substantially paper material and having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface, wherein said load is capable of resting upon said top surface during the storage and transporting of said load;
- a plurality of pylons operably attached to said platform member,
- each of said pylons having a top end and a bottom end opposite said top end, and an outer surface,
- said top end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member, and said bottom end of each of said pylons being positionable on any shipping platform apparatus support surface, so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices between the platform member and the shipping platform apparatus support surface, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said divisible shipping platform apparatus during use thereof;
- at least one frangibility line operably positioned across at least a portion of the platform member so as to enable severing of said portion of said platform member along said at least one frangibility line to, in turn, facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units of smaller size for subsequent handling of said loads.
- 36. The invention according to claim 35 wherein said at least one frangibility line spans the substantial length of at least one of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the platform member such that said divisible shipping platform apparatus may be divided into at least two independent shipping platform units.
- 37. The invention according to claim 35 further comprising:
- a bottom panel member, wherein said bottom panel member comprises
- at least two pre-separated bottom panels, wherein said bottom panels are attached to said bottom ends of said pylons such that said at least two bottom panels are substantially planar so as to allow the shipping platform apparatus to rest on a platform support surface.
- 38. The invention according to claim 35 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into at least two independent shipping platform units.
- 39. The invention according to claim 38 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into four independent shipping platform units.
- 40. The invention according to claim 35 further comprising:
- at least one pylon sleeve for operably housing said pylons, wherein said pylon sleeve includes
- a top sleeve member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two opposing side edges;
- a bottom sleeve member having a top surface, a bottom surface, two opposing side edges, and an opening;
- at least two top sleeve member side panels, said top sleeve member side panels foldably emanating from said top sleeve member opposing side edges;
- at least two bottom sleeve member side panels, said bottom sleeve member side panel foldably emanating from said bottom sleeve member opposing side edges,
- said top sleeve member side panels substantially overlaying and being secured to at least a portion of said outside surface of said pylons, and
- said bottom sleeve member side panels substantially overlaying and being secured to at least a portion of said top sleeve member side panels,
- said top end of at least two pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said top sleeve member, and said bottom end of each of said at least two pylons being operably secured to said top surface of said bottom sleeve member,
- said top surface of said top sleeve member being operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member, so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices therebetween, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said shipping platform apparatus during use thereof.
- 41. A divisible shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads by conventional tined material handling devices, which apparatus can be operably divided into multiple, independent shipping platform units for supporting and transporting loads, said divisible shipping platform apparatus comprising a substantially unitary paperboard blank including:
- a top panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge, a second edge, and at least one frangibility line operably positioned across at least a portion of said top panel so as to enable severing of said portion of said top panel along said at least one frangibility line to, in turn, facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units for subsequent handling of loads;
- a first side panel, having a first side edge, foldably emanating from the first edge of said top panel, said first side panel positioned substantially perpendicular to said top panel;
- a second side panel, having a first side edge, foldably emanating from the second edge of said top panel, said second side panel positioned substantially perpendicular to said top panel;
- a first bottom wing panel foldably emanating from the first side edge of said first side panel, said first bottom wing panel positioned substantially parallel to, and distally spaced below said top panel,
- said first bottom wing panel having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface;
- a second bottom wing panel foldably emanating from the first side edge of said second side panel, said second bottom wing panel positioned substantially parallel to, and distally spaced below said top panel,
- said second bottom wing panel having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said bottom surface being substantially planar with said bottom surface of said first bottom wing panel,
- said first and second bottom wing panels being substantially co-planar to one another in an articulated orientation; and
- a plurality of pylons operably positioned between said top panel and said first bottom and said second bottom wing panels so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices therebetween, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said divisible shipping platform apparatus during use thereof,
- each of said pylons having a top end and a bottom end opposite said top end, and an outer surface,
- said top end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said top panel, and said bottom end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said top surface of one of said first bottom wing panel and said second bottom wing panel.
- 42. The invention according to claim 41 wherein at least one of said first and second side panels further comprises at least one opening to facilitate insertion and removal of tines from said material handling equipment.
- 43. The invention according to claim 42 wherein said first and second side panel both include at least two openings to facilitate insertion and removal of tines from said material handling equipment.
- 44. The invention according to claim 41 wherein at least one of said first bottom wing panel and said second bottom wing panel further include at least one aperture, such that said at least one aperture facilitates effective cooperation of said divisible shipping platform apparatus with said tined material handling device by allowing said tined material handling device to be positioned between said top panel and at least one of said first bottom wing panel and said second bottom wing panel during the raising, relocation, and lowering of said divisible shipping platform apparatus and, in turn, said load.
- 45. The invention according to claim 41 wherein said at least one top panel frangibility line spans the substantial length of both the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the top panel, thus defining top panel divisible regions.
- 46. The invention according to claim 45 wherein at least one of said first and second side panels and said first bottom and second bottom wing panels further include a frangibility line running substantially transverse to said top panel longitudinal frangibility line.
- 47. The invention according to claim 46 wherein said first and second side panels and said first bottom and second bottom wing panels all include a frangibility line that is substantially aligned with the top panel transverse frangibility line.
- 48. The invention according to claim 47 wherein said first and second side panel frangibility lines are completely severed prior to articulation of said substantially paperboard blank.
- 49. The invention according to claim 47 wherein said first bottom wing panel and said second bottom wing panel frangibility lines are completely severed prior to articulation of said substantially paperboard blank.
- 50. The invention according to claim 41 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into at least two independent shipping platform units.
- 51. The invention according to claim 50 wherein said divisible shipping platform is divisible into four independent shipping platform units.
Parent Case Info
The present application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 08/778,496, filed on Jan. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,841 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/326,544, filed Oct. 20, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,606, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/876,572, filed Apr. 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,531, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/634,426, filed Dec. 27, 1990, now abandoned.
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Continuations (3)
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Parent |
326544 |
Oct 1994 |
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Parent |
876572 |
Apr 1992 |
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Parent |
634426 |
Dec 1990 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
778496 |
Jan 1997 |
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